Tell Progressives To Honor Their Pledge: Insist On A Public Option - Jane Hamsher/FDL

[WillyT]

Tell Progressives to Honor Their Pledge: Insist on a Public Option
By: Jane Hamsher Friday March 12, 2010 1:56 pm

<snip>

Today, Dick Durbin says that if the House sends over a public option in their reconciliation bill, he’ll whip for it. But he won’t whip for a public option amendment. Which is incredibly chickenshit of Durbin — it once again puts all the blame on the House for the public option’s failure, and accepts none of it himself. In other words, pure Durbin.

In response, Nancy Pelosi says she won’t include a public option in the House bill.

As I said the other day when I laid out FDL’s position on whipping the public option, I’m still not convinced they can pass this bill–period. And I don’t particularly want to get everyone riled up to whip on something that may never happen. But as a pure matter of principle, after almost a year of blaming its exclusion on lack of votes in the Senate, there is no way it should die in the House.

The PCCC has done a great job getting members of Congress on the record as to where they stand, and I agree wholeheartedly with Adam Green:

Mark Warner, Tom Harkin, Herb Kohl, Claire McCaskill, and other undeclared senators are not going to vote against the president’s top priority, and if Speaker Pelosi refuses to even allow a vote on the public option, than she killed the public option. She needs to step up.

If the House is going to put a health care bill to a vote, we should at least be able to see who is going to stab their voters and turn their backs on Democrats on behalf of the insurance companies before the next election.

Let’s see who’s willing to do that.

Sixty members of Congress pledged to vote against a health care bill that didn’t have a public option. Others made videos and gave statements. They need to make it clear to Nancy Pelosi that they will honor that pledge if she doesn’t include a public option in the health care bill.

Call progressive members of Congress who pledged to vote against any health care bill that doesn’t have a public option, and tell them to insist on its inclusion in the House bill. Then let us know what they say.

Call Now: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/content/pledgewhip

<snip>

Link: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/03/12/tell-progressives-to-honor-their-pledge-insist-on-a-public-option/

:shrug:

:kick:

[donco6]

1. What? You dare Speak the Name that Must Not be Spoken?

Shame.

[jonathon]

2. It wasn't so long ago that the vast majority of DU stood firmly against a bill without a PO

And, yet here we are....

No wonder the corporatists ignore the people.

Lay down and die.

[bvar22]

13. The "Centrists" at DU will line up,

and do what they are told by their masters.
After all, its "Chess",
and the peasant class can't be expected to understand the complexity of betrayal by those pledged to work on our behalf.
So, "Line Up" and follow the Leader.

Actually, I have some compassion.
I can understand the entrenched denial.
It is very scary to entertain the idea that neither Political Party represents 98% of America.

"I am not a crook".

"I did not have sex with THAT woman."

"NAFTA will be good for the American Working Class."

"The Patriot Act will keep us safe."

"We Saved the Economy."

"I did not campaign on a Public Option"

"We'll Fix it Later"

[LostInAnomie]

3. I wonder what Grover Norquist and the Teabaggers think of her breaking ranks.

[WillyT]

5. Blah, Blah, Blah...

See... by censoring yourself and not being open to different points of view, you miss the fact that Jane and FDL have ALWAYS been champions of the Public Option.

Shame really...

:shrug:

[LostInAnomie]

8. It's a shame she and FDL aren't banned from DU.

She is a shameless Obama basher and apologist for Norquist and the Teabaggers. I wouldn't be surprised if LaRouche was for the public option, but that doesn't mean people should post his views on here.

[WillyT]

9. You Go Ahead And Censor Yourself, But...

don't you dare try and censor me, or others here who choose to think for ourselves.

Banned from DU... give me a fucking break!

Are you sure YOU are on the right board???

:wtf:

[LostInAnomie]

10. Yeah, posting someone else's blog is a great demonstration that you can think for yourself.

:eyes:

Damn right, I'm on the right board. I support the President, the Democratic Party, and Democratic candidates. I'm not the one posting posts from a woman that teamed up with Norquist to attack the White House, or suggested that we team up with Teabaggers.

[WillyT]

11. Oh... I Got It Now... Understood...

Enjoy the prom.

[LostInAnomie]

12. Better a cheerleader than a...

Enjoy your HCR.

[WillyT]

16. Ironic, Isn't It ??? - I'm A Crybaby For Wanting ACTUAL Social Justice, And You...

are the epitome of why we'll never get it.

Enjoy your "pragmatism"...

I'm certain the Health Insurance Industry thanks you for it.

:shrug:

[inna]

18. "Apologist for Norquist" - LOL, what silly and ridiculous nonsense!

But seriously, bashing of progressives is very uncool, to say the least, and reflects poorly on bashers. :thumbsdown:

[Oregone]

4. There already is a Public Option!

Get fired, get poor, and apply for Medicaid. Otherwise, they don't give a shit

[WillyT]

6. And Don't Forget The Emergency Room Public Option !!!

:banghead:

:wtf:

:hi:

[SlackWillie]

7. If the party that rules Congress wants a PO, all they have to do is vote it in! Simple math for

simple minds. Just do it!

[rhett o rick]

14. The Party as a whole is split. Many, if not most, dont want a PO. nt

[inna]

15. K&R for Jane and principled progressivism!

:D

:kick:

[WillyT]

17. Thank You !!!

:bounce:

:hi:

[inna]

20. You're most welcome, and thanks for posting this!

:toast:

:fistbump:

Jane is a true progressive with principles, integrity, and guts! She's one of my favorites, and in fact... :P Did you notice my avatar? :evilgrin: I changed it a few months ago, due to all the relentless and ridiculous Jane-bashing. }( :D

[WillyT]

22. Yes... I Love Your Avatar !!! - ...And Jane...

...And you're pretty great yourself !!!

:bounce::blush::bounce:

:rofl:

:hi:

[Jefferson23]

19. K&R

[laughingliberal]

21. Call, write, bang on their doors

It's feeling kind of hopeless but, really, what's it cost to keep the pressure up while there's still time? I'm in it til the last (Blue) Dog dies (figuratively, of course).

[SandWalker1984]

23. Better yet, no public option should mean NO MANDATES

Otherwise, they are regulating us into corporate servitude in exchange for a little bit of health insurance (notice, I did not say health care.....)

[democracy1st]

24. K & R